Until We’re Both Hoary-Haired (8)

"What's there to be scared of? His mother doesn't bite, does she?" An Xiaxia was bewildered.

Su Xiaomo sighed.

It was nothing like that. She was only afraid that it would upset He Jiayu.

"I'll think about it."

That night, Su Xiaomo officially made the suggestion to He Jiayu, who, after a long silence, said, "It's not a bad idea."

Su Xiaomo said anxiously, "I won't go if you don't want me to."

"It's ok. After all, she's still my mother." He Jiayu smiled wryly. "Alright, go to bed now."

It was well into the night.

Sleep evaded He Jiayu. By the moonlight shining in through the window, he looked closely at Su Xiaomo's face next to him.

He realized that he had been the cowardly one all along.

Caressing Su Xiaomo's pretty eyebrows, He Jiayu whispered, "I don't hate her. The person I hate is myself."

-

Lantern Festival arrived fifteen days after the Spring Festival.